NATO allies met on Friday in the North Atlantic Council to consult on the situation in Afghanistan, the alliance said in a statement, vowing support to the Afghan government and criticizing Taliban attacks “on Afghan civilians.”
“We continue to assess the developments on the ground, and we are in constant contact with the Afghan authorities and the rest of the international community,” NATO said.
“Our aim remains to support the Afghan government and security forces,” NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said. “We maintain our diplomatic presence in Kabul and the security of our personnel is paramount.”
The statement added that NATO allies are deeply concerned about the high levels of violence caused by the Taliban’s offensive, including attacks on civilians, targeted killings, and reports of other serious human rights abuses.
“The Taliban need to understand that they will not be recognized by the international community if they take the country by force. We remain committed to supporting a political solution to the conflict,” the statement said.
This comes as Taliban continues its offensives on Afghanistan’s major cities.
Over the last week, Taliban seized centers of at least 17 provinces, including Nimroz, Farah, Ghor, Badghis, Herat, and Ghazni.
